2021-2022 MAVS NEWS: 4th in West | WCF loss [ARCHIVED]

[mvossman]

I agree with your POV, overall. 

I've said this I don't know how many times, but I just don't think Hardaway is a bench player type. There is a tendency to look at these guys and arrange them according to some type of made up "overall rating" and make sure the top 5 overall scores are the starters, and while I can understand the desire to make sense of the roster, I just don't think it works that way. 

Hardaway doesn't strike me as a 6th man, like at all. He's not an offensive creator, which is what every historically great 6th man brings to the table. Brunson? Sure, he'd be great in that role, if he's happy with it. A dream fit, actually. Obviously, he's up and coming and that might not be an option available to the Mavs at this point. It might be "start him or trade him" time. 

But for Hardaway, I think he's a starter, and much more worth his contract in a high-minute, offensively featured role (one that's focused on creating shot opportunities for him like last season's Mavs offense). If they've determined (and I'm not sure they have - I think they're experimenting) that he's not going to be that here, then I think it's really important he's moved ASAP. I'm one of Hardaway's biggest fans, but I'm not excited in the least to watch him come off of the bench. I don't think he'll ever be successful in that role.

I agree with all of this, including they have not determined anything yet.  What I do think is that if they decide they are going to keep Brunson and pay what he will cost, its going to be in the starting lineup, and I don't see a starting lineup with Luka/Brunson/THJ working defensively (as many folks here have pointed out).  I think the team defense really took off when one of THJ or Luka was out of the starting lineup and I don't see that pattern changing.

So agreeing with your premise, it seems that they really need to trade one of Brunson or THJ at the TDL.  Interestingly enough, that would also be the most straightforward route to getting under the tax for next year.